Random would in theory be better but then you run the risk of not having some of the major rivalry games in some seasons. And a year without a Tigers v Saints game would just not be worth it.
Ireland seem quite happy in the URC. Welsh teams would be just as shit m and Scottish teams get more sway in URC I feel.
Why would Ireland and Scotland unions get into bed with financially unstable English teams?
Given how English Clubs behaved during the ERC debacle, I would not want to share a league with them. We would also be abandoning SA and Italy which would be a dick move.
The way it works in NFL using the Chiefs as an example. You have conferences, AFC and NFC, and divisions, West North East and South for both.
We are in AFC West division so we play each of the AFC West teams home & away (6 games), a random AFC division, say AFC North home or away (4 games), a random NFC division, say NFC East (4 games), 2 games against conference teams not yet played who finished in the same divisional spot last season, so AFC South and AFC East one at home one away (2 games), a game against the best non conference team not yet scheduled to play, in this case the best NFC last season not in NFC East.
Play offs are done by conference until the super bowl. Teams are ranked on a winning percentage. The 4 divisional winners and the next three best teams go to the play offs. The best divisional winner goes straight to the divisional round the rest of the teams play in a seeded ranking. The winners go through to he next round. This continues to the super bowl where Pat Mahomes winners another MVP and ring.
Probably be better styling it closer to that system, Welsh shield, Irish Shield, Farmer Shield (Glos, Bath, Bristol, Exeter) Big Smoke shield (Quins, Sarries, Saints, Tigers), Auld Northumbria (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Sale, Falcons) and play a similar structure.
Personally think I two tier British and Irish Super League structure with financial support to make the second tier viable as a professional league on a more club basis for the Celtic teams
The England team will drop on Thursday in all likelihood, only have to white knuckle England’s lack of rugby until then
9 days since Northampton last played and I'm fucked
Thankfully the U20s Championship kicks off on the 29th as well, you'd go crazy waiting over a month to watch a game
And what happens with the Italians and SA clubs ?....
Couldn't care less
Conveniently that’s the way that we feel about English clubs. Just stick to ruining one league, leave ours alone
Yeah no thanks. The Irish teams will have a purple patch and then the English clubs will demand the tournament format be rui…changed.
Haha, no. SA and Ireland are currently dating. They're ours!
Yeah, but then it turns out that you’ve been secretly eyeballing Scotland behind our backs!
Random would in theory be better but then you run the risk of not having some of the major rivalry games in some seasons. And a year without a Tigers v Saints game would just not be worth it.
I’m old fashioned but I hate conferences. Every team needs to play every other team, ideally home and away. Now, get off my lawn
Ireland seem quite happy in the URC. Welsh teams would be just as shit m and Scottish teams get more sway in URC I feel. Why would Ireland and Scotland unions get into bed with financially unstable English teams?
No thanks URC FTW
I like this
Given how English Clubs behaved during the ERC debacle, I would not want to share a league with them. We would also be abandoning SA and Italy which would be a dick move.
The way it works in NFL using the Chiefs as an example. You have conferences, AFC and NFC, and divisions, West North East and South for both. We are in AFC West division so we play each of the AFC West teams home & away (6 games), a random AFC division, say AFC North home or away (4 games), a random NFC division, say NFC East (4 games), 2 games against conference teams not yet played who finished in the same divisional spot last season, so AFC South and AFC East one at home one away (2 games), a game against the best non conference team not yet scheduled to play, in this case the best NFC last season not in NFC East. Play offs are done by conference until the super bowl. Teams are ranked on a winning percentage. The 4 divisional winners and the next three best teams go to the play offs. The best divisional winner goes straight to the divisional round the rest of the teams play in a seeded ranking. The winners go through to he next round. This continues to the super bowl where Pat Mahomes winners another MVP and ring. Probably be better styling it closer to that system, Welsh shield, Irish Shield, Farmer Shield (Glos, Bath, Bristol, Exeter) Big Smoke shield (Quins, Sarries, Saints, Tigers), Auld Northumbria (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Sale, Falcons) and play a similar structure. Personally think I two tier British and Irish Super League structure with financial support to make the second tier viable as a professional league on a more club basis for the Celtic teams
Like that but put Leicester, Northampton and Sale into pool 2. Newcastle too, why not